I totally get what Microsoft is trying to do. Basically be "Steam" for Xbox, but also allow Disc purchases and trades in the same SKU.

I hate Gamestop and ppl who support them by selling games back to them for they can screw over other gamers (on price). I've never bought a used game in my 29 yr existence. I hope the used game market gets abolished. Cheaper games for gamers more money in the developers pockets (what's not to like).

The 24-hour check in wouldn't be necessary if the console was download only (no optical drive).

The HDD isn't removable so you can't have 20 games installed on a drive and passed around to your favorite buds to beat.

I'm totally cool with the policy if you don't need a 24-hour check if all games you installed/purchased on you XONE HDD came from the online store (a la Steam). Since there is no physical media to keep track of and my HDD isn't removable, there is no reason for the 24-hour check-in. I figured ppl here would be more on-board with MS's approach (considering is almost the exact same model as Steam). I love the fact that they're rocking the boat here. I think the system would've been non-disc based, but people don't have 100Mbit+ connections to their homes. *unless your in Kansas ;) * And these "next gen" games are gonna be 25GB+. (Last of Us is 27GB)

One thing I haven't seen answered...

Does the PS4 require games to be fully installed onto the HDD? (I prefer this, I hate swapping discs)

If so, are you required to keep the disc inside the unit? If so, I think this ******* sucks...

Install the whole game, yet I still need the disc. I'd prefer inputting a serial number (like current PC games) if that removes the disc from the equation.

Would you guys like MS off the hook if they enacted a serial number system like this and did away with the 24-hour check-in ?

I will be getting a XOne at launch (along w/ a PS4). MS has more launch titles right now.

The 24-hour check in wouldn't be necessary if the console was download only (no optical drive).

Not true, you can gift away games you downloaded. Since you can do this from anywhere you're logged in, the check-in is necessary so that you don't use a friend's system to give the game away and just have your xbox unplugged.

Quote:

One thing I haven't seen answered...

Does the PS4 require games to be fully installed onto the HDD? (I prefer this, I hate swapping discs)
If so, are you required to keep the disc inside the unit? If so, I think this ******* sucks...

Yes to both, only way to play the game without the disc on PS4 is to buy it digitally.

The 24-hour check in wouldn't be necessary if the console was download only (no optical drive).

Not true, you can gift away games you downloaded. Since you can do this from anywhere you're logged in, the check-in is necessary so that you don't use a friend's system to give the game away and just have your xbox unplugged.

Quote:

One thing I haven't seen answered...

Does the PS4 require games to be fully installed onto the HDD? (I prefer this, I hate swapping discs)
If so, are you required to keep the disc inside the unit? If so, I think this ******* sucks...

Yes to both, only way to play the game without the disc on PS4 is to buy it digitally.

I didn't know about the "gifting downloadable" games. I guess this is a plus. (Although I would give up this feature if it does away with the 24-hour check-in)

I didn't know about the "gifting downloadable" games. I guess this is a plus. (Although I would give up this feature if it does away with the 24-hour check-in)
Does PS4 have a similar "gifting" feature?

No, the PS4 has nothing for digital games beyond basically the steam model.

With the Xbox One, there is no distinction between digital and disc based games, both can be downloaded from the cloud and shared with your gaming family, as well as gifted through the cloud. It's M$'s best policy but they're leaving it in interviews rather than parading it during either convention.

The Phantom was a cancelled video game console that allegedly began development in 2003 by Phantom Entertainment, known as Infinium Labs at that time. The cancelled device was supposedly planned to be capable of playing current and future PC games, giving the system a massive initial game library and making it easier for developers to produce games for the system. The system was supposedly designed to use a direct-download content delivery service instead of the discs and cartridges used by most game consoles.